Salvia plant named &#39;Elk White Ice&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Salvia  named ‘Elk White Ice’ that is distinguishable by its compact upright plant habit, profuse branching and secondary branching, and pure white flowers, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Salvia microphylla×greggii

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Elk White Ice’

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Salviaplant, also known as a sage, a perennial that is grown for use as anornamental landscape and container plant. The new variety is a hybrid ofSalvia microphylla and Salvia greggii and will be referred tohereinafter by the cultivar name ‘Elk White Ice’.

‘Elk White Ice’ originated and was selected from a large population ofhybrid seedlings from a Salvia breeding program which was started in2009. The breeding program was conducted in a greenhouse nursery in Elk,Calif. A controlled hybridization was carried out in 2012 between Salviamicrophylla ‘Robin Middleton’ (unpatented) as the male parent and Salviagreggii ‘Texas Wedding’ (unpatented) as the female parent.

Seeds from this hybridization were sown and a single plant was selectedin 2013 for its pure white flowers and naturally compact and branchingand secondary branching habit, and was subsequently named ‘Elk WhiteIce’.

‘Elk White Ice’ was first asexually propagated in early spring of 2013in a greenhouse at the inventors nursery in Elk, Calif. using softwoodtip cuttings. ‘Elk White Ice’ is stable and reproduces true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thedistinguishing characteristics of ‘Elk White Ice’. ‘Elk White Ice’ hasnot been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differencesmay be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, without however, any variance in genotype.

1. ‘Elk White Ice’ exhibits a compact upright plant habit;

2. ‘Elk White Ice’ branches profusely with secondary branches appearingin pairs at each node of the primary branches.

3. The flowers of ‘Elk White Ice’ are pure white in color; and

4. ‘Elk White Ice’ grows and flowers rapidly. Flowering plants may beproduced in 10 to 12 weeks from a cutting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance ofthe new Salvia cultivar ‘Elk White Ice’ showing the colors as true as itis reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Photographs were taken in April, 2015 in Santa Barbara, Calif. ofthree-month old plants grown outdoors in quart containers, with onepinch after initial cutting establishment and without any chemicalgrowth regulators. Colors in the photographs may differ from the colorvalues cited in the detailed botanical description, which moreaccurately describes the actual colors of the new variety ‘Elk WhiteIce’.

FIG. 1 depicts an entire plant in flower of ‘Elk White Ice’.

FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the inflorescence of ‘Elk White Ice’.

FIG. 3 depicts a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Elk WhiteIce’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Elk White Ice’. Observations, measurements, values,and comparisons were collected in March and April, 2015 in SantaBarbara, Calif. from two to three-month old plants grown outdoors infull sun in quart sized containers in Elk, Calif., with one pinch afterinitial cutting establishment and without any chemical growthregulators. Plants were transferred to Santa Barbara, Calif. when in budand observed through flowering. Color determinations were made inaccordance with The 2007 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart fromLondon England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Lamiaceae.        -   Genus.—Salvia.        -   Species.—microphylla×greggii.        -   Common name.—Sage.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Salvia greggii ‘Texas Wedding’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Salvia microphylla ‘Robin Middleton’            (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation method.—Softwood tip cuttings.        -   Rooting system.—Fine and fibrous.        -   Vigor.—Moderate vigor.        -   Time to develop roots.—5 days are needed for a cutting to            develop roots at recommended rooting temperature of 20° to            22° Centigrade.        -   Crop time.—Approximately 12 weeks are required to produce a            budded and flowering plant in a quart container from a            rooted cutting.        -   Suggested container size.—Quart to 1 gallon container.        -   Use.—Ornamental for use as a landscape plant or container            plant.        -   Type.—Perennial.        -   Overall dimensions.—After one year's growth in a 3.5 inch            container: 30 cm to 35 cm in height, including the            inflorescence, and 15 cm to 20 cm in width.        -   Cultural requirements.—Grow in full sun with moderate water            and well-draining soil.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 7. Further testing may indicate Zone 6.        -   Form.—Bush.        -   Growth habit.—Compact, erect.        -   Blooming season.—From one month after breaking spring            dormancy to first frost.        -   Lastingness of blooms.—Inflorescence has some flower for 14            days, individual flowers last for 2 to 3 days.-   Stems (below first pinch):    -   -   Length.—1 cm to 2 cm.        -   Diameter.—4 mm.        -   Color.—174C, bark where formed, 174A.        -   Shape.—Square, edges rounded.        -   Texture.—Rough where lignified.-   Branches and secondary branches:    -   -   Quantity.—3 to 4, each with two secondary branches at each            node.        -   Shape.—Terete, becoming square (rounded edges) towards            inflorescence.        -   Length.—18 cm to 22 cm. Secondary branches 12 cm to 14 cm.        -   Width.—3.0 mm, sub-branches 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm.        -   Internode length (branches and secondary branches).—1.8 cm            to 2.0 cm.        -   Color.—N170B close to stem, becoming green 145B towards            apex.-   Leaves:    -   -   Type, arrangement.—Simple, opposite.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Quantity per branch.—Typically, 6 pairs on each branch, 4            pairs on each sub-branch.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Length.—26 mm.        -   Width.—13 mm.        -   Margin.—Very shallowly crenulate, entire towards base.        -   Thickness.—Slightly fleshy.        -   Venation.—Pinnate, midrib slightly sulcate.        -   Texture.—Adaxial surface: Glabrous, glossy. Abaxial surface:            Glabrous, semi-glossy.        -   Color.—Adaxial surface: 143A. Abaxial surface: 143C.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Fragrance.—Pleasant sage fragrance when rubbed.        -   Leaflets.—Present in pairs at each leaf axil. Small,            elliptic, 9 mm in length, 3.5 mm in width. Petioles 1.5 mm            in length, 0.5 mm in diameter. All other characteristics            same as leaves.-   Petiole:    -   -   Shape.—Terete.        -   Length.—8 mm.        -   Width.—1 mm.        -   Texture.—Puberulent.        -   Color.—144C.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—1.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Square with rounded edges.        -   Width.—1.0 mm to 1.2 mm.        -   Texture.—Puberulent.        -   Color.—145B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Terminal raceme. Flowers arranged in pairs, opposite,            each pair rotate by 90 degrees.        -   Length.—7.0 cm to 9.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—5 cm.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—4 mm.        -   Width.—0.8 mm.        -   Texture.—Puberulent.        -   Color.—145B.-   Calyx:    -   -   Shape.—Campanulate, flared toward the apex.        -   Length.—11 mm.        -   Height.—6 mm.        -   Width.—3 mm.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—2, one upper, one lower, substantially            longitudinally fused.        -   Length.—11 mm.        -   Width.—6 mm when flattened.        -   Shape.—Cymbiform.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Adaxial surface: Puberulent, longitudinally ribbed.            Ribs 1 mm apart, raised less than 0.1 mm. Abaxial surface:            Glabrous, longitudinal depressions.        -   Color.—Adaxial surface: 145B, ribs 145A. Abaxial surface:            145C.-   Flowers:    -   -   Quantity.—10 to 12 arranged in opposite pairs.        -   Shape.—Tubular, two-lipped.        -   Fragrance.—Pleasant sage fragrance.-   Bud (as emerges from calyx, before petals differentiated):    -   -   Shape.—Ellipsoidal.        -   Length.—4 mm to 5 mm.        -   Width.—3 mm to 4 mm.        -   Texture.—Pubescent, especially apex which already bears            cluster of hairs of upper petal lip.        -   Color.—155A.-   Corolla:    -   -   Shape.—Tubular proximally to two-lipped distally.        -   Length.—1.5 cm.        -   Width.—3 mm.        -   Texture.—Glossy, glandular.        -   Color (both surfaces).—NN155A, translucent.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—2.        -   Arrangement.—One upper petal hooded and one lower petal            which appears as a lip which terminates with two fused            orbicular lateral lobes.        -   Upper petal.—Shape: Hooded. Length: 9 mm to 10 mm. Width:            4 mm. Texture: Adaxial surface: Puberulent. Abaxial surface:            Glabrous, with two longitudinal ribs. Apex: Rounded, with            cluster of fine hairs approximately 1 mm in length, color            155A. Base: Truncate with lower lip at corolla mouth.            Margin: Smooth, entire. Color (both surfaces): 155A.        -   Lower petal, lip and lateral lobes.—Shape: Lip rhomboid,            lateral lobes orbicular, substantially fused to lip and to            each other. Length: 13 mm. Width: 14 mm to 16 mm. Texture            (both surfaces): Glabrous, semi-glossy. Apex: Rounded. Base:            Truncate. Margin: Gently undulating. Color (both surfaces):            NN155D.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 1, comprised of two connected filaments,            fused at base and longitudinally. Length: 12 mm. Color:            NN155C.        -   Filament.—Length: Each filament is 12 mm, fused for 5 mm and            free for 7 mm. Color: NN155C.        -   Anther.—Length: 1.2 mm. Width: 0.5 mm. Color: 163B.        -   Pollen.—Amount: Sparse. Color: 163B.        -   Pistil.—Quantity: 1. Stigma: Shape: Asymmetrically forked.            Length: Longer fork 3 mm, strongly recurved; shorter fork            1.5 mm, gently recurved. Width: 0.5 mm. Color: NN155C.            Style: Length: 24 mm. Color: NN155C, translucent.        -   Ovary (only observed unfertilized, one pair of immature            achenes).—Length: 2 mm. Width: 1 mm. Color: 10B, achenes 8A.-   Fruit/seed set: None observed.-   Disease and pest susceptibility: Susceptible to sucking insects when    stressed. Generally outgrows most bacterial and viral infections.    Resistant to deer and rabbit grazing.-   Drought tolerance: Drought tolerant.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘Elk White Ice’ is distinguishable from the female parent, ‘TexasWedding’ as follows: Whereas both ‘Elk White Ice’ and the female parent‘Texas Wedding’ exhibit white flowers, ‘Elk White Ice’ is a smallerplant with significantly greater branching in comparison to plants of‘Texas Wedding’ which seldom branch and are therefore less suitable forcommercial production and consumer appeal.

‘Elk White Ice’ is distinguishable from the male parent, ‘RobinMiddleton’ as follows: Whereas the flowers of ‘Elk White Ice’ are purewhite in color, the flowers of the male parent ‘Robin Middleton’ aresoft light pink in color. In addition, when compared with ‘RobinMiddleton’, plants of ‘Elk White Ice’ are smaller and bear smaller,rounder and deeper green colored leaves. Finally, plants of ‘Elk WhiteIce’ exhibit a denser branching habit with more flowers and a longerflowering period.

‘Elk White Ice’ is similar to Salvia Plant Named ‘EGGBEN066’ (U.S. PlantPatent Publication No. 2014/0345026), however whereas ‘Elk White Ice’has pure white flowers, ‘EGGBEN066’ has bright white flowers with aslight flush of red.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named ‘Elk WhiteIce’ as described and illustrated herein.